Hens go broody when you don’t want them to… and won’t go broody when you do. 
Chicken_overlord
Songster
- Feb 2, 2025
- 90
- 204
- 111
Hello all!
I am looking for those who are experienced with true Ameraucana. Currently I breed BCM and Blue Copper Marans in addition to Silverudd's Blue. I rotate free range my flocks and I love how efficient my Silverudds Blue are at free ranging. On the days they are out they eat noticeably less feed and the roo is very vigilant.
My marans on the other hand are well...not good. I have two hen raised hens that seem slightly better at it, but honestly what normally happens is the hens scatter every which way and my Marans roo ends up only keeping an eye on two of the BCM hens that stick close to him. He doesn't try to locate and keep everyone together like my Silverudds roo does. Also, they tend to go out and abroad, peck around a bit, and then come back to the coop to stuff themselves before heading back out.
I have also hit the roadblock of Marans becoming VERY oversaturated in my area which has made it difficult to sell chicks (hatching eggs still sell kinda decent, interestingly enough
)
Long story short, I'm looking to sell out my breeding flock of Marans (which stinks because it took me forever to find quality hens and a quality rooster with a good temperment) in order to work with a breed thats a better fit for our routine and is easier on the feed bill and as such would like to get into Ameraucana next year, specifically wheaten Ameraucana because that beautiful honey color is to die for!
So, for those who have owned true Ameraucana, how well do they free range? How is their egg to feed ratio? Temperament? Do the roos tend to be jerks or are most of them gentleman? Anything else that's useful to know?
Thank you!
I am looking for those who are experienced with true Ameraucana. Currently I breed BCM and Blue Copper Marans in addition to Silverudd's Blue. I rotate free range my flocks and I love how efficient my Silverudds Blue are at free ranging. On the days they are out they eat noticeably less feed and the roo is very vigilant.
My marans on the other hand are well...not good. I have two hen raised hens that seem slightly better at it, but honestly what normally happens is the hens scatter every which way and my Marans roo ends up only keeping an eye on two of the BCM hens that stick close to him. He doesn't try to locate and keep everyone together like my Silverudds roo does. Also, they tend to go out and abroad, peck around a bit, and then come back to the coop to stuff themselves before heading back out.
I have also hit the roadblock of Marans becoming VERY oversaturated in my area which has made it difficult to sell chicks (hatching eggs still sell kinda decent, interestingly enough
)Long story short, I'm looking to sell out my breeding flock of Marans (which stinks because it took me forever to find quality hens and a quality rooster with a good temperment) in order to work with a breed thats a better fit for our routine and is easier on the feed bill and as such would like to get into Ameraucana next year, specifically wheaten Ameraucana because that beautiful honey color is to die for!
So, for those who have owned true Ameraucana, how well do they free range? How is their egg to feed ratio? Temperament? Do the roos tend to be jerks or are most of them gentleman? Anything else that's useful to know?
Thank you!
